same-sex marriage
Supreme Court allows gay marriage to expand to 30 states
By Richard Wolf — October 6, 2014
WASHINGTON (RNS) The unexpected decision by the justices immediately affects five states in which federal appeals courts had struck down bans against gay marriage: Virginia, Indiana, Wisconsin, Oklahoma and Utah.
Why same-sex marriage is expected to heat up this election among evangelicals
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — September 12, 2014
(RNS) A new group of progressive evangelicals is trying to persuade other Christians to support same-sex marriage.
Gay marriage supporters’ string of court victories broken in Louisiana
By Richard Wolf — September 4, 2014
(RNS) The ruling Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman marked the first time since the Supreme Court ruled against the federal Defense of Marriage Act in June 2013 that a federal court refused to throw out a state's ban on gay and lesbian marriages.
Farm owners fined for saying no to lesbian wedding
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — August 19, 2014
NEW YORK (RNS) A court ruled that a family farm qualifies as a public accommodation because it regularly collects fees for space, facilities, services and meals, so it cannot be considered “distinctly private.”
Utah same-sex marriage proponents want Supreme Court to rule, too
By Marissa Lang — August 8, 2014
SALT LAKE CITY (RNS) Lawyers for the three same-sex couples announced Thursday (Aug. 7) that they will join with Gov. Gary Herbert and Attorney General Sean Reyes in calling for the Supreme Court to hear their case.
Gay, Christian and … celibate: The changing face of the homosexuality debate
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — August 4, 2014
(RNS) With "ex-gay" ministries falling out of favor -- even by their biggest proponents -- many Christians are encouraging gays and lesbians to adopt a life of celibacy instead, without ever trying to change their sexual orientation.
Appeals court ruling clears way for gay marriage in the heart of Bible Belt
By Richard Wolf — July 29, 2014
(RNS) A federal appeals court panel in Virginia became the second one this summer to strike down a state ban against same-sex marriage Monday (July 28), making it more likely that the Supreme Court will settle the issue as early as next year.
Utah asks Supreme Court for urgent intervention to halt same-sex marriage recognition
By Marissa Lang — July 17, 2014
(RNS) A state win would effectively nullify more than 1,000 unions gay and lesbian Utahns entered into during a 17-day legal marriage window.
Student who married same-sex partner expelled from Southwestern Christian University
By Greg Horton — July 11, 2014
(RNS) Christian Minard said she is aware that her relationship violates the covenant, but she is troubled at the inconsistent application of the rules, saying she believes she was singled out for being a married lesbian.
Utah to appeal gay marriage case to Supreme Court
By Michael Winter — July 10, 2014
(RNS) Attorney General Sean Reyes decided to leapfrog the full 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals after a three-judge panel last month upheld a lower-court ruling and declared that the U.S. Constitution's guarantees of equal protection and due process extend to gay men and lesbians who want to marry.
World Vision, recovering from gay policy shift, tries to shore up its evangelical base
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — June 26, 2014
(RNS) The $1 billion relief agency has struggled since an earlier about-face on same-sex marriage, but recent moves signal a shift toward shoring up its evangelical base.
Is the black church shifting on gay marriage?: Q&A with filmmaker Yoruba Richen
By Adelle M. Banks — June 25, 2014
(RNS) Filmmaker Yoruba Richen, director of the documentary “The New Black,” sees new conversations starting in black churches as her film about the intersection of race, religion and sexuality is screened across the country.
Thousands rally at U.S. Capitol against gay marriage
By Heather Adams — June 19, 2014
WASHINGTON (RNS) Faced with a string of losses in the court and a rapid shift in public opinion in favor of gay marriage, planners of Thursday's traditional marriage rally aimed to show lawmakers -- and especially courts -- that they will not give up without a fight.
Presbyterians vote to allow gay marriage
By Lauren Markoe — June 19, 2014
(RNS) Gay rights activists within the church rejoiced at their victory, which was remarkable for its lopsidedness after multiple years of razor-thin defeats.
San Francisco archbishop defends decision to join D.C. rally against gay marriage
By David Gibson — June 17, 2014
(RNS) "If the point of this event were to single out a group of individuals and target them for hatred, I most certainly would not be there,” wrote San Francisco Achbishop Salvatore Cordileone, who leads the Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
